Video: Pneumatics Power Scary Guy

Engineering took a terrifying turn at Pack Expo in Chicago on Halloween, as the pneumatic equipment supplier Bimba Manufacturing Co. demonstrated the air-powered Scary Guy for some of the show's 46,000 attendees.

Meet the Scary Guy.(Source: Design News)

The Scary Guy is an animatronic figure built by the Scare Factory. Bimba supplied components for electronic controls, air cylinders, valves, fittings, and filters to enable the figure to move its upper body independently. Bimba engineers said the pneumatic bill of materials for the Scary Guy amounted to less than $300.

Hi Charles, Nice video of Scary Guy in action. What type of Bimba Pneumatics and electronic controls were used to bring Scary Guy to life? I'll definitely share this video with my Controls Systems class for a good discussion on Animatronic Applications using Mechatronics!

It certainly is quite a show, and low budget at that. It may be a great marketing tool and open up a new set of aplications, with function and durability being far more important than accuracy it should be workable for a much larger group of users.

But I don't think it is nearly the first use of air cylinders in animated figures, although probably one of the scarier applications.

Other than the fact that it uses air cylinders, valves, fittings, filters and electronic controls, I don't know much about the components, MrDon. But I'd be happy to put you in touch with Bimba engineers if you contact me at my e-mail address: charles.murray@ubm.com. Hopefully, we can get more detail for your Control Systems class.

Earlier this year paralyzed IndyCar drive Sam Schmidt did the seemingly impossible -- opening the qualifying rounds at Indy by driving a modified Corvette C7 Stingray around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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